Comorbidity of substance misuse and mental illness in community mental health and substance misuse services

Abstract

Comorbidity is highly prevalent in CMHT, drug and alcohol treatment populations, but may be difficult to manage by cross-referral psychiatric and substance misuse services as currently configured and resourced.

Characteristics of opiate users presenting for a new treatment episode: Baseline data from the national drug treatment outcome study in Ireland (ROSIE)

“…Although reductions in crime are not seen as specific goals of drug treatment in Ireland, an effective response to drug-driven acquisitive crime requires treatment for drug-related problems. A range of physical (Stein, 1999) and mental (Weaver, Madden, Charles, Stimpson, & Renton, 2003) health problems are associated with problematic drug use. Study participants reported high rates of physical and mental health symptoms and extensive contact with an array of health and social care services, highlighting the multiple and often inter-related or complex needs of this cohort.…”

Drugs of abuse among acute psychiatric and medical admissions: laboratory based identification of prevalence and drug influence

“…Substance use disorders are also highly prevalent among patients with less severe mental disorders, and may induce or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms and affect treatment outcome negatively (62,63). For these co-morbid conditions, knowledge on etiology and pathophysiology is still limited (52).…”

Mental health problems: Are they or are they not a risk factor for dropout from drug treatment? A systematic review of the evidence

“…Recent prevalence estimates of such co-morbidity in drug treatment samples were reported to range from 20% to 93% (Marsden et al 2000;Franken and Hendriks 2001;Virgo et al 2001;Manning et al 2002;Weaver et al 2003).…”